Salvaris and the Sapey woods

A pleasant walk for summer days, as it is almost entirely in the shade. A spectacular finale with a unique and magnificent view of the city of Saint-Étienne.

Details

676007
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.45 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 128 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 129 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,090 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 953 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: hamlet of Salvaris.

(S/E) Take the hillside path that continues beyond the inn. This path quickly enters the woods. Continue along it, staying on the main path (the widest one), ignoring the paths branching off to the left or right.

(1) Continue right on the forest road with a raised barrier and stay on the main path. It turns left 200 m further on. It heads south, then after 1 km it makes a wide loop to the right, which begins with an uphill section. The path then heads north.

(2) At this point, the path returns in the opposite direction in a fairly tight loop. Ignore the paths on the right. Stay on the main road, which heads south, then turns and climbs south-east and finally flattens out towards the east. After a final right-hand bend (do not take the first path on the left), continue for another 50 m until you reach the junction marked by signposts.

(3) Do not take the path marked "Salvaris par la Chanat 2.8kms" but turn sharply left onto the path marked "Salvaris par les crêtes 3 km". Head north-northeast (this is a section of the Claude Berthier trail). Reach a first bare summit.

(4) Continue along the path. After the second peak, the descent is a little rocky.

(5) At the bottom of the hill, leave the path and take a grassy path on the left closed by a cattle gate (go around it via the small pedestrian passage). Descend this path to return to the starting point in the hamlet of Salvaris (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 962 m - Hamlet of Salvaris
  2. 1 : km 1.26 - alt. 984 m - Junction
  3. 2 : km 3.26 - alt. 1,040 m - U-turn
  4. 3 : km 4.82 - alt. 1,054 m - Claude Berthier trail junction
  5. 4 : km 5.71 - alt. 1,079 m - View
  6. 5 : km 6.62 - alt. 1,045 m - Turn-off for the return to Salvaris
  7. S/E : km 7.45 - alt. 961 m - Hamlet of Salvaris

Notes

Start/finish: hamlet of Salvaris, inn (check opening days), fountain.
Parking in the hamlet is reserved for guests of the inn. Parking is available on the grass verge 200 m before, at point 961.

Worth a visit

Summit (4): viewpoint on the right over the Crêt de la Perdrix, the Jasserie and the Saut du Gier
Between (5) and (S/E): magnificent view of the Saint-Étienne basin and the city of Saint-Étienne.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 26 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
isabellepara
isabellepara

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk. The elevation gain is low and very gradual.
It took us only 1 hour and 50 minutes to complete the hike, despite snowy and muddy areas.
The inn was closed at that time.
It is also possible to reach the car park without going back through Salvaris by continuing straight ahead at point 5 (but you will probably miss the beautiful view of Saint-Étienne).
We followed the trail without looking at the description, which was more than enough.

However, we were a little stressed at the start of the route because we could hear hunting dogs nearby. We hadn't read the relevant advice left by a previous hiker about the area to avoid between points 1 and 2 during hunting season, which I have included below:

A very important point to note:
If you are visiting between mid-September and the end of February, this is the hunting season.
Therefore, when you reach point 1, do not take the path on the right, which is recommended by the Trace to reach point 2.
At point 1, you will see an open gate with a sign saying "Hunting Zone". This is an area where there are battues (hunts).
I recommend that you do not take the path on the right and continue straight ahead. You will arrive directly at number 3, without passing through number 2.

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User 3047954

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful views.
Not much elevation gain.

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Patrick Ronze
Patrick Ronze

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, peaceful walk under the trees with few hills. Suitable for beginners and children. Pleasant forest trails. Improvements are currently underway.
The circuit takes 1 hour 50 minutes to complete.

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DDx
DDx

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great for getting back into shape after winter

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stephanoix
stephanoix
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant route for a hot, sunny day as it is mostly in the woods. The walk is characterised by a very gentle incline, spread over almost the entire route, so you don't feel the climb in your legs.

We did the hike on 17 September 2023 without knowing that it was the opening day of the hunting season. The route was particularly busy with hunters' 4x4s on this occasion. There were no particular problems to report, but it is important to be aware that this is a hunting area.

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ANNGVG
ANNGVG

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, partly through the woods. Unfortunately, we arrived just as clouds were gathering, promising a storm, so we shortened the route by going from point 1 directly to point 3 (the path that climbs up opposite). The loop is then 5.1 km long. There is a short climb at point 1, then a gentle slope to point 3. Fortunately, this meant we didn't get soaked on the way back.
The detailed map of the route enabled us to make this change. Don't hesitate to take the grassy path to point 5, which is not very well marked at the start.
On the way back, there are superb views of Pilat, then Saint Etienne and Firminy.
We met six people on Pentecost Sunday. What a treat!

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Tartine
Tartine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy and pleasant route when the weather is warm. We didn't encounter anyone else, and it was completely peaceful

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chakeurfamily
chakeurfamily

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through beautiful countryside in complete tranquillity, as we were practically alone on the trail.

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ClaireM85
ClaireM85

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A delightful walk, alternating between shade and sunshine, requiring no exceptional physical fitness.

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Bigdam
Bigdam

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant family walk that is even suitable for pushchairs (with large wheels), with gentle, gradual slopes and varied scenery. In short, pure joy!

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guy pagat
guy pagat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in the chill of this spring day.
Park just before Salvaris, where a small car park is currently being built. Very little elevation gain. We extended the route by joining the GR42 between 2 and 3, returning at 3.
The clear-cut woodland creates a somewhat desolate landscape but opens up the horizon to magnificent views (St Etienne, La Valla, the Gier valley, etc.)
We came across a magnificent deer that had survived the hunting season.
Normally, on arrival, we would have enjoyed a delicious blueberry tart at the Auberge des Genets d'Or, or even a good rapée!

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Stoff
Stoff

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant route with views of Saint-Etienne.

One very important thing to note:
If you visit between mid-September and the end of February, it is hunting season.
Therefore, when you reach point 1, do not take the right-hand path recommended by the trail to reach point 2.
At point 1, you will see an open gate with a sign saying "Zone de Chasse" (hunting area). This is where the hunts take place.
I recommend that you do not take the path on the right and continue straight ahead. You will arrive directly at number 3, without passing number 2.
This is what we did, and it took us 1.5 hours for this very easy hike.

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Danyla
Danyla

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy hike with a lovely view of St Etienne.

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brissou007
brissou007

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in the shade of the forest. The description sometimes raises a few questions, but it's easy to follow the route.

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marcheursdu vendredi
marcheursdu vendredi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Wonderful walk!
It's hard to say if the trails are busy because we never saw a soul during our visit!

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